Closure for containers for aerated beverages



km2, 1940. H. s. BRAVO ET A1.

CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS FOR AERATED BEVERAGES Filed Aug. 24, 1937INVENTIR. Aly/ Amo `SANCHEZ RAVO ANUEL ANCHEZ BR vo BY S Y,

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 2, 1940 NIT S DATE iCE

CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS FOR AERATED` BEVERAGES Hilario Sanchez Bravo andManuel Sanchez Bravo, Buenos Aires, Argentina 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to containers for aerated beverages andparticularly to containers for aerated beverages such as soda-water inwhich the gas pressure is relatively high.

Aerated beverages, such as soda-water in which the gas pressure isrelatively high are generally in bottled siphons. 'Ihese siphonscomprise a glass body into which is inserted the Siphon-tube including avalve and said siphontube is generally held in position by means of adischarge head screwed on to a split collar applied externally totheglass body below an annular shoulder which serves as a stop for saidcollar, said discharge head having a spout or nozzle and comprising astem connected to an external lever, said stem being adapted upondepression of said lever to unseat the siphon valve and thus allow theaerated beverage to be discharged.

Although such soda-water siphons may be readily disassembled forcleaning and sterilization purposes after the contents have beendischarged, their general construction, particularly with regard to thedischarge head and the siphontube, makes the cleaning and sterilizationoperations troublesome and relatively costly and there is, moreover, aconsiderable risk of breaking the Siphon-tube. cleaning operations arecarried out before the soda-water siphon is recharged, the fact thateach bottle carries its own head and that this head forms a convenientmeans oi transporting the bottles individually gives rise to thefollowing disadvantages: In the first place, a considerable amount ofcapital is tied up in the heads and, secondly, in the process ofdelivering the soda-water siphons to the individual consumer, thehandling to which the heads including the spout are subjected may undoto a considerable extent, the effect of the cleaning and sterilizationprocesses carried out in the bottling plant. Mioreover, the spout isexposed to the atmosphere and consequently to any dust, dirt or microbeswith which the atmosphere may be charged, so that after bottling anduntil use is made of the sodawater siphon, the spout may, apart from thehandling to which it is subjected, become dirty or infected on theinside.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a newclosure for soda-water siphons and similar containers for aeratedbeverages which closure shall not necessitate for its efiicacy thepermanent present of a discharge head while permitting the ready andeasy application Even if such sterilization and at any time of any formof discharge device, including the standard type of discharge head.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a container ofthe type described in which the siphon-tube is secured in position by adetachable cap having a central aperture corresponding to the apertureoi the valve housing of the Siphon tube, said cap being so formed anddimensioned as to iit readily within the depending skirt of the standarddischarge head.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in a container ofthe type described, and in combination with our novel closure, liftingmeans whereby the container may be lifted and transported withouttouching said closure, and said lifting means may likewise serve assecuring means for a standard discharge head. Other objects andadvantages of the present invention will become apparent in the courseof the following detailed description.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a vertical section of the upper portion of a Siphon containerfitted with our novel closure and lifting means, a standard dischargehead being likewise shown in said figure partly in section and in aposition in which it is about to be applied to the container with theimproved closure.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the upper portion of a siphon containerillustrating a modied embodiment of our invention.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the container of Fig. 2 partly in section alongthe line III-III of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical sections of the upper portion of theSiphon-tube showing alternative types of valve.

With reference to Fig. 1, the container cornprises a body l!) generallyof glass and having a neck I2 which is, in general, of frusto-conicalshape and is provided with an annular shoulder i6 against which theupper end of the split collar (shown in modiiied form and described indetail hereinafter) is adapted to abut. The container is also generallyprovided around its mouth with a lip lli. Within the container there ispositioned a Siphon-tube 20, the upper end of which carries a valvehousing I8 which at its free end has a flange 22 adapted to rest on thefree end of the neck i2, or in anannular recess provided at said freeend.

As best seen in Fig. 4, the free end of the valve housing l0 is closedas by a plate 42 having a central opening 3l! which is normally closedby a valve body lil The valve housing is usually held in position bymeans of the discharge head ian 36, Fig. 1, which is screwed on to thesplit collar before-mentioned and has a compressible washer 33 whichcontacts with the top or plate 42 of the valve housing I8 and holds thelater in position. The standard discharge head has a valve operatingstem 34 suitably coupled to an external lever 35 and adapted upondepression of said lever 35 to pass through the opening 30 of valvehousing I8 and unseat the valve.

According to the present invention the valve housing I8 is secured inposition by means of a cap 24, which may either be of the crown type asshown in Fig. 1 in which case the skirt of the cap or portions thereofare bent inwardly underneath the lip I4, or the cap may befofthe screwtype as will be later described in connection with Fig. 2. In eitherevent said capy has a central Y aperture 32 concentric with andpreferably somewhat larger than, the opening 30 of the valve housing andthere is interposed between the cap 24 and the flange 22 a compressiblewasher 24 so as to provide a gas-tight seal. In practice, the aperture32 of the cap 24 is preferably covered by a wafer or strip of paper orthe like indicated at 5U, which is affixed to the outside of the capafter the container has been filled and preferably as shown in Fig. 2projects beyond the cap, so as to enable it to be taken by the fingersand pulled off when it is desired to use the Siphon.

The novel closure construction so far described does not provide anyconvenient means for lifting the container. Such means are, in practice,necessary inasmuch as the soda-water siphons and the like are generallydelivered to the retailers or to individual purchasers in nested cratesso that the Siphons can only be withdrawn by takinghold of them in theneighbourhood of the neck. As previously pointed out, the usualdischarge head 36 provides a convenient means for lifting, inasmuch asgenerally the lever 35 projects from the head in a directiondiametrically opposite to that of the spout 31, Fig. 1, and thus thehead offers convenient gripping arms. In accordance with one of theobjects of the present invention, convenient lifting means are providedfor the container fitted with our improved closure and in one embodimentthese means may represent a modified form of the usual split collar forsecuring the discharge head. According to this embodiment which isillustrated in Fig. l, a split collar 52 is provided, the inner surfaceof which is shaped so as to conform substantially to the outer surfaceof the neck portion I2 of the container I0, below the retaining shoulderI6. The outer cylindrical surface of the split collar has cut in it ascrew thread 54 adapted to receive the female screw thread 56 formed onthe inside of the depending skirt 58 of a standard discharge head. Belowthe screw thread 54 each half of the split collar has a radiallyprojecting arm 68 with an enlarged end in which a fingerhole 62 isformed. At a point diametrically opposite to said arm 60 each half ofthe split collar has a projection |54 adapted to lie against acorrespondingly shaped portion 65 formed near the root of the arm 60 ofthe other half of the collar. Said root portion and said projection areprovided with a hole 65, 63 tapped to receive a securing screw as shownat 68 in Fig. 3. At a point on the root portion on the side of thetapped hole 65 remote from the arm, a counter-sink 'I6 is formed adaptedto receive a tooth 'i2 formed on a corresponding position of theprojection 64 of the other arm collar, so

as to facilitate the proper alinement of the two parts before thedischarge head is put on.

It will readily be understood that only one of the holes 63 or 65 needbe tapped, the other being then made large enough to allow the screw topass freely therethrough and preferably being counter-sunk at itsexposed end. Similarly, one half of the collar may carry teeth both atthe root portion and on the projection, the other half collar thencarrying counter-sinks in the corresponding position. In like manner thearm 6I) may be merely a downwardly curved arm instead of having anenlarged and perforated end.

In the modified form of our closure illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, thecap |24 is designed to be screwed on to the extremity |14 of the neck II2 of the container III. Said extremity is therefore provided with amoulded screw thread indicated at IIB in Fig. 2, the stop-shoulder forthe lifting means being formed below said moulded screw thread |16 asindicated at IIB. In this form there is preferably provided on theinside of the mouth of the container, an annular recess |18 in which theange |22 of the valve housing IIB may fit there being preferablyinserted between said flange and the bottom of said recess acompressible washer |80, in order to secure as gastight a joint aspossible. For the like purpose. a compressible washer |28 is interposedbetween the cap |24 and said flange |22.

In Fig. 2, the lifting means is similar in construction to that shown inFig. 1, except that in the modified form shown in Fig. 2, no screwthread is provided. Consequently, the registering counter-sinks 'IIJ andteeth 'I2 may be omitted. Thus, as shown in Fig. 2, the lifting meanscomprises two halves each of which include a split collar portion |52adapted to fit around the neck I I 2 and below the shoulder I I6 andhaving at one point a radially projecting arm ISIJ which may be merelycurvedras shown or may have a fingerhole similar to the finger-hole 62of the embodiment of Fig. 1. The modified lifting means has likewise at.a point diametrically opposite said arm I 6I) a projection |64, adaptedto fit against the root portion |66 of said arm ISU and said rootportion and said projection aredrilled and tapped as indicated at |10and |12 to receive a fixing screw 68, shown in Fig. 3. It will readilybe understood that the width of the arms 5I! and is greater than thethickness of the root portion or that of the projection 64 or |64 sothat in the assembled condition of the lifting means the outer surfaceof the projections of the two halves will be substantially flush withthe side face of the arm 60 or |60 on their own side.

In Figs. 2 and 3 a preferred valve construction is shown which:comprises a valve housing II B secured at one end to a Siphon tube I2!)and having cut on the outside of its other end a screw thread so that acover |82 having an internally threaded depending skirt |84 may bescrewed on to said housing. Said depending skirt |84 is formed on oneside of the cover |82 between the outer edge of the cover and thecentral opening |30. so that the flange I 22 is formed between saidskirt and said outer edge and an annular portion |23 between said skirtand the edge of the opening |30.

Within the housing I I8 there is positioned a valve comprising abody-portion |36 having a substantially cylindrical upper portion |88 onthe outside of which a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves |90is cut. Said valve body likewise comprises a central guide member |92formed on one end of a cylindrical portion and lying within the circleof grooves. The body portion is centrally hollowed from the end o thecylindrical portion remote from the guide member and in the cavity soformed there is fitted a thrust member ist having a central perforationor recess i adapted to serve as a guide and seating for the free end ofa stem or similar valve depressing element of a discharge device.

Said valve body It@ is normally urged towards the annular portion i123of the cover 82 by means of a spring 83 seated between the bottom of thehousing l it and the annular portion of the cylindrical part of thevalve body surrounding the guide member i552.

In practice it has been found convenient to interpose between the freeend of the housing IIS and the cover it? a gasket 2li@ and theaforementioned annular portion of the cover, as well as said gasketshould project inwardly a sufcient distance to cover the ends of thegrooves lllil. In these circumstances it will be clear that normally thevalve i522 is held closed by means of spring M93 as well by the pressureof the trom the aerated beverage. but may be depressed when desired soas to uncover the grooves through which the beverage will then escapeafter rising up the tube ld, said beverage passing then along thegrooves lill? around the stem or other depressing element, through thecentral opening it@ of the valve cover ll and through the aperture i552of the closure cap ltd, the orotecting strip 45o having. of course, beentorn away or perforated previously to the insertion of thevalve-depressing member.

lt will be clear that although the invention has so far been describedin relation to the valve shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the scope thereof isnot to he considered as limited to such valve construction. In effectother types of valves comemp-loyed in the valve housings attached tosiphon-tubes may equally conveniently be employed in connection with theimproved closures. For example, the ball valve illustrated Fig. 4.comprising the housing 2&8 having a iiange 222 in its upper end andclosed by means of a cover plate il? and containing a ball iii maylikewise be used, although as will be appreciated such a valve is heldin its Clo-sed condition exclusively by the gas pressure obtaining inthe container so that, if the gas pressure sinks below a critical point,the ball valve will be slack and thus allow of accidental spillage.

In Fig. there is shown a spring-urged valve somewhat similar to thatshown in Fig. 2, except that in Fig. 5 no grooves are provided on thevalve body and that the cover plate 342 is secured to the flange '22 ofthe housing dit by soldering or welding instead. of by screwing. In thisform of valve, no gasket is interposed between. the valve body idd andthe cover plate 342.

In practising our invention we insert into the washed and sterilizedcontainer iii a washed and sterilized Isiphon-tube and valve IS, and wethen apply the ccmpressible washer 23 or i213 and the cap 2d or 52d, asthe case may be. The container is now ready for lling and is filled witha high pressure aerated beverage in the usual manner, by forcing thebeverage through the aperture 32 past the valve and down the tube Et.Upon removing the container from the iilling machine, the pressurewithin the container will close the valve and hold it closed either withor without the assistance of a spring. The protective cover-slip 50 or|50 may then be applied so as to prevent dust and dirt or the like fromgetting on to the valve. The lifting means is then secured around theneck of the container as already indicated and the container is readyfor shipment. In order to use the container, the ultimate consumer willneed to have some form of discharge device and it is assumed for thepurposes of this description that the ultimate consumer will have thisindividual standard clischarge head. On receiving the lled container,the consumer may tear olf the protective strip 5!) and screw onto thecollar 52 the standard head 3E, which since it remains in his possessionmay be cleaned and sterilized by himself and kept in a suitable placewhere it will not be exposed to dust, dirt and the like. Moreover, suchstandard head will be handled only by the actual consumer or with hisknowledge and consent and not by transport and delivery employees. Whenthe container is for all practical purposes empty, the consumer willremove the discharge device and he may, if he so desires, remove the cap2d or lZ or at least, and particularly if the crown type of cap is used,render it useless as a closure for the relled bottle, thus ensuring thaton being returned to the bottling plant a new, clean cap will beapplied. Even if the consumer does not render the cap useless as, forexample, when screw caps as shown in Fig. 2 are employed the washing andsterilizing operations are rendered so easy and simple by means of thepresent construction that the bottlers could readily be relied upon tocarry them out consistently and properly. When the empty or partly emptycontainers are returned to the bottling plant, the cap may be removedthus allowing of the extraction of the Siphon unit for cleansingpurposes and thereafter a fresh cap or the old cap after cleaning may bereadily reapplied and the container refilled.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that our novel type of closure notonly overcomes the difculties associated with the practice of applyingindividual standard discharge heads to the sodawater siphons and therebyensures that the consumer will receive his container in a clean andsanitary condition, but it also greatly facilitates the task of thebottlers in cleaning and washing and reassembling the returned empties.

What we claim is:

In a Siphon bottle and similar container for storing and dispensingaerated liquid, having a neck comprising an outer threaded portion, andan inner annular shoulder formed in said neck; in combination, a valvehousing within said neck, a Siphon tube carried by said valve housingand extending into said bottle, said valve housing having outer screwthreads formed therein, a cover positioned within said neck, the top ofsaid cover being substantially flush. with the top of said neck, saidcover comprising a threaded depending skirt meshing with the outer screwthreads of said valve housing, an outer ange and an inner annularportion, said skirt constituting a continuation of said outer flange andof said inner annular portion; a valve body situated within said housingand comprising a bottom portion constituting a guide member and acylindrical upper portion having a plurality of outer grooves formedtherein, said cylindrical upper portion being adapted to closely contactthe inner walls of said valve housing and reciprocate therein along theaxis of said neck; a thrust member within the upper portion of the valvebody, said thrust member having a tapered recess formed therein andadapted to serve as a guide for a valve depressing element, a springsituated within said housing and pressing said Valve body toward theinner annular portion of said cover, an annular gasket-situated betweenthe upper portioni of said valve body and the inner annular portion ofsaid cover and carried by said valve housing, said gasket covering theends of said outer other annular washer between said cap and said 5Colver.

HILARIO SANCHEZ BRAVO. MANUEL SANCHEZ BRAVO.

